‘Where’s the funding?'

   In a show of solidarity, students from Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon colleges joined protestors statewide Monday decrying California Legislatures’ slashing of higher education budgets and skyrocketing tuition costs.
   About 80 students marched side by side from district headquarters on Broadway to SAC to voice disapproval to board members and district officials at a scheduled meeting.
   The rally was one in a string of protests during March where students and educators spoke out against mounting costs and a host of cuts impacting colleges.
   Last year the legislature cut higher education by 20 percent, forcing California’s universities and community colleges to cut thousands of courses, raise fees, dump student programs and furlough employees.
   Community colleges now charge $26 per unit. Protestors held up signs opposing a proposed increase to $40 per unit.
   "I do believe in these economic times that it will affect students," Norman Fujimoto, vice president of academic affairs said. "Many will take fewer classes and some may take none."
   As the nation’s largest higher education system, the state’s 112 community colleges have faced continuous budget cuts, adding up to $520 million in 2009-2010 alone.
   The next fiscal year is equally bleak, as California faces a $20 billion budget deficit for 2010-2011.
   Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers are looking at a variety of program cuts to close the deficit, many of which are targeted at education.
   For the first time in three years the governor is recommending increasing higher education spending by 12 percent, restoring some of the monies lost, but the state’s colleges would still receive less funding than in normal years.
   "The biggest frustrations I have are that the cuts are being imposed on us at the state level," Trustee Phillip Yarbrough said. "The $40 a unit cost will cripple the school."
   College officials are prioritizing classes by focusing cuts on recreational classes, theatre arts and sports programs.
   "You make me pay more, and then you better give me more," SCC ASG President Tina Lam said in front of the board of trustees.
   Last spring, classes were cut by more than 12 percent, and the upcoming summer session has been cut by 15 percent. Earlier this year, the college’s popular Intersession, which ran during January, was axed in another money saving effort.
   As a result of shrinking courses and escalating fees, class sizes and waitlists have doubled and SAC enrollment has plummeted by about 20 percent. With another tuition increase on the horizon, SAC’s enrollment will continue to free fall, officials said.
   "I think you’re going to have multiple effects," SAC President Erlinda Martinez said. "Students will reconsider if they want to continue on in college or drop out."
   The district was forced to cut back and is now looking at three main course areas; transfer classes, job training and basic education, Yarbrough said.
   "I was held back another year because of cut classes," said criminal justice major Annabel Vargas, who has been here for three years.
   Students are taking the brunt of the budget shortfall and like others statewide, some decided that they need to stop objecting and take action.
   The chant, "No more cuts" echoed throughout the campus as students marched with fists held high, holding protest signs and posters that read, "WTF" for "Where’s the funding?" and "Get your hands out of my pocket."
   "This is a sign that things have to change," SAC ASG President Alex Flores said.
   Some students wore shirts representing their campus, while others painted their fists red as a symbol and in support of the "March in March" rally in Sacramento that same day.
   Trustees John Hanna and Yarbrough joined students at the campus rally, showing their support and urging students to send a message to the state capitol. "Students need to be at various legislators’ offices," Hanna said. "Students need to demand accountability."
   "Fight against the $40 units," Yarbrough said.
   SAC Associated Student Government President Alex Flores and SCC President Tina Lam encouraged everyone at the rally to participate in a text message campaign in which the goal was to get 1 million students to text state leaders.
   Students and supporters in near unison whipped out their cell phones and texted "No more cuts" to a number that sent all messages to California’s legislators.
   "It [the rally] truly identified our students

as a district," Martinez said. "It’s really good

they advocated."